Living in America 2015

[rootypig]

New thread. In honour of:

1. allegedly Irish bangers discovered I saw in Trader Joe's today, which made me think of you lot and especially you Want2b, you pork fanatic - I will report back; and

2. taxes bloody argh! do I have to do this? NOW??? My green card was granted in August last year and I didn't earn a bloody penny. What am I supposed to put on a tax return

How else is everyone's American odyssey going?

yours chaotically, as ever,

rooty

Do does anyone have the target red card? Trying to figure out how it works as I don't want to be paying any interest or charges.

My main concern is that I will be paying interest on purchases made from the purchase date and not like with a credit card.

Mine is a Target visa credit card. I got it to start building up a separate credit history for myself when I was getting divorced. Interest is charged only if the balance is not paid in full when your bill comes due afaik like any other credit card.

Oh that's fine then. I got myself the new dyson stick cleaner this weekend so saved an additional $20 ontop of their $100 discount. DH was convinced it was a purchase card meaning interest starts the day you buy not when due.

Slight change of topic, sorry, but has anyone gone off network for their TV? We have Apple TV and Netflix and have just signed up to Hulu in a bid to ditch our cable box. We'll keep our phone line as our burglar alarm runs through it and we'll obviously keep wifi but we reckon we can cut $100 a month off our Comcast bill. Any experience of this?

Math did you once recommend the name Sullane to me on a baby names thread last year? I feel like you did...just listening to a Peadar O Riada documentary about his composition about the river from the RTE documentary podcasts series (which I highly recommend, along with Sunday Miscellany and Talking History, as an easy way to keep in touch with the auld sod ). It's making me miss West Cork (need to book our tickets for our big trip back this summer - can't wait!).

Thanks alpaca, we've hidden the remote and switched off the cable box, will see how it goes. Was speaking to a friend yesterday who has done this but she bought Roku. We already have Apple TV, which is similar, so no extra cost to start up....

I've wanted to do this but DH 'needs' cable to watch Liverpool. I know you can watch ESPN on Xbox but until nbc has something similar we are stuck with a $120/month cable bill.

We've only ever had the Apple TV /Netflix / Hulu combo, and it's perfect for us. We've just added HBO Go for $15 a month so we can watch John Oliver's show and realised there's lots of other good stuff on there too.

Octonauts recently appeared on Netflix, and Peso has a Mexican accent! Weird.

We've only ever had Netflix and Amazon and it's fine - none of us are sports fans though and I hate American news. We still need to get a VPN though cos I still miss British tv and especially CBeebies for the DC and the news for us. I stream radio 4 through the sonos though

We also only use Netflix and Amazon though may get HBO Go. Also use a VPN for iplayer (mainly for me for news and things like Bake Off, Masterchef, Strictly) and Tour de France on ITV (only sport I really watch!). I listen to podcasts mostly (Including lots of R4 like In Our Time and From Our Own Correspondents and Friday Night Comedy podcast).

Interesting how many people are off network. We have a vpn too as I watch mostly UK TV on my iPad, it's only really the kids who watch tv anyway......

I listen to a lot of radio 4 podcasts too, I actually put that mornings Today program when it's my morning!

ATB that's a good idea about the Today programme! Though I like our local NPR station (WNYC) and tend to just listen to that in the morning (and they have the BBC world service from 9-10am). We also donate to WNYC and get our New Yorker subscription as a thank you gift (very much a win/win!).

ATB you don't need VPN, just get a plug in - I use media hint for firefox. I stream BBC and ITV no problems.

We don't have a TV, and just watch on computers. Yes, lots of Radio 4 here too, I do the today programme in our morning DD still has an English accent, wondering how long I can sustain it....

Flip we're going home this summer too and I'll probably be in west Cork for a few days I was there the summer before last, we had a house at Incheydoney, it was scorching!

I think I did. I knew someone with that name and have never met another. I think it's a lovely name (much nicer than Shannon if you want to name someone after a river ). Could you see your way to packing me away in your suitcases when you go to Cork this summer? You can pull over and throw me out on the side of the road when you get to a secluded spot...

I just have ordinary broadcast tv along with Netflix and the web. I actually like our local PBS station and especially its children's fare, and there is a fab local classical music station (WFMT) that is great in all respects except one soporific afternoon programme host.

Much much nicer than Shannon! No probs to be stowed away .

Also a pbs kids fan here though we watch via Netflix. Peg + Cat is great (though I'm glad the Super Why phase is over!). My 5 year also loves The Magic School Bus.

Rooty Inchydoney is so so gorgeous! We had nearly a week in Cape Clear (highly recommend the yurts!) during that heat wave and it was amazing. This is our first summer trip since then. My mum and some brothers live in Cork City (where I'm from) so most time will be there. Looking forward to proper pubs and not 'irish pubs'! We'll do day trips (and maybe a spot of camping) to West Cork but we'll be off to Lahinch in Co Clare for a family get together to celebrate my mum's 80th which will be our main fun. And will also go to London for a friend's wedding (and already stressed about how to see everyone I want to see!). Really can't wait...the humidity here in NJ (combined with the mozzies) doesn't agree with me (I'm such a weather whiner! Too cold in winter, too humid in summer...).

Lahinch! I spent my childhood holidays on that beach, and Fanore. My dad's family is from Lisdoonvarna and thereabouts

Oh Lisdoonvarna (sung a la Christy Moore!). A great spot! I spent nearly all my summers in Garretstown in West Cork but we also spent some time in Lahinch (my dad was a golfer). Haven't visited properly in years (not actually stayed in Lahinch in 30 years ). My six month old dd2 is the 15th grandchild and it will be great to have the whole clan together. And it's so beautiful there that even if it lashes rain every day (which could happen lol!) it will still be great.

Sounds like a root family hol! everyone piling in to a couple of houses at the beach. Do go up to Fanore, and Spanish Point, if you roam. We might bump into you!

*rooty

Flip Take me too. DH booked flights for Denmark and its a 3 week trip this time. We have now purchased a car in Denmark so I have wheels. Thinking to escape to Germany but Ireland sounds far better.

Rooty I'll keep an eye out for you!

Want2 what a good idea buying a car in Denmark. I hate the extra cost for a hire car. We'll be doing 3+ weeks too, but DH will combine that with a bit of work in London. I'd love to visit Denmark (and southern Sweden).

It was a stupidly expensive idea but needs must because it's very difficult to get a car big enough. We got a VW Passat estate that is diesel and 10 years old. While we are away the FIL drives it when going down to Germany for food shopping and DH drives it when working. We paid about $1500 for the car and about $1000 to fix it up. The annual car insurance and taxes are $2200 per year. We are thinking changing it so FIL is the primary driver as he puts the most miles on it and have us as named drivers. It can't be more expensive!

Oh in England I have my dads old Mercedes thay I bought off him. It's wide and I have lots of dings down both sides. its converted to LPG so cheap to run and tax. Goes like the clappers.